David Michael Hughes was 9 years old when he was killed in Santa Cruz, California, on January 25, 1973. His death was one of several murders committed that day by Herbert Mullin, who targeted people while acting on paranoid delusions about preventing earthquakes.

Mullin went to kill a former high school friend, Jim Gianera, but found the friend had moved. The friend’s previous residence was then inhabited by Kathy Francis, who gave Mullin Gianera’s new address without knowledge of his intent. Mullin killed Gianera and his wife, then returned to Francis’ home and shot and fatally stabbed Kathy Francis and her two children, David Hughes, 9, and Daemon Francis, 4.

Authorities arrested Mullin and charged him with multiple homicides; his trial disclosed severe mental illness and resulted in convictions and life imprisonment. David Hughes’s death is recorded among the victims of that crime spree.

If anyone knew David or the Francis family, or has information about that day, please share what is remembered.